Drexel University Athletics
Saturday, February 21
Vidas Field
12:00
Drexel University
vs
#13 Albany
TABASCO® Men's Lacrosse Game Preview: No. 19 Dragons Host No. 13 Albany
2/20/2015 9:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Philadelphia - The No. 19 Drexel men's lacrosse team makes its Vidas Field debut on Saturday afternoon at noon when the 13th-ranked Albany Great Danes come to Philadelphia. The teams have played one-goal games with the Dragons coming out on top in each of those contests.
Drexel is coming off a 14-10 loss at then No.9 Virginia on Saturday. The Dragons opened up a quick two-goal lead and made it a 3-0 game 10 minutes into the contest. Jules Raucci scored the Dragons' first goal of the year just 50 seconds into the game. Less than two minutes later, Ryan Belka got on the board with an unassisted score. Mason Pynn closed the three-goal run at the 5:26 mark. Virginia answered by scoring six of the next seven goals to take a 6-4 lead. Tyler German and Ryan Tucker each scored twice during the stretch. German and Greg Coholan had back-to-back goals just 53 seconds apart. Drexel freshman Michael Kay scored his first career goal to get the lead back to two goals but Owen Van Arsdale, German and a pair by Tucker put the Cavaliers by two with 5:50 left before the break. They would not trail again in the game. The Dragons trailed 8-6 at the break and got the face off to start the third. Drexel had possession for almost five minutes and took nine shots but could not score. When the Cavaliers got the ball back, they rattled home three goals in a span of 1:02 to take control of the game.
Belka and Raucci each finished with two goals to lead the Dragons. Virginia had a balanced offensive attack as five players had at least two goals. Van Arsdale had a hat trick, while Tucker, Pannell and Lukacovic each had a pair of goals and assists. Matt Barrett made 12 saves in the cage for UVA. Drexel's Saputo won 16 of his 27 draws and had a game-high 11 ground balls. The Dragons outshot Virginia, 42-39, but committed 19 miscues in the game, 10 that were forced by the Cavaliers.
Albany has yet to play a game this year. The Danes are expected to be the top team in the America East. They have won the conference title in each of their last two seasons. Last season, Albany had a similar fate as the Dragons, reaching the tournament and winning a game before falling in the NCAA Quarterfinals. Albany stunned No. 1 Loyola, defeating the Greyhounds, 13-6. Their season ended with a 14-13 loss to Notre Dame in overtime.
The Great Danes lost one Tewaaraton Trophy winner but return another for 2015. Miles Thompson and his NCAA record 82 goals are gone, but his cousin Lyle, co-winner of the Tewaaraton, is back to lead Albany's offense, which led the country with 15.94 goals per game. Lyle Thompson set Division I records with 77 assists and 128 points. He also scored 51 goals and begins his final season with 279 career points. He needs 75 points this season to tie Rob Pannell for the NCAA record. Blaze Riordan is back in the cage for Scott Marr's team. Riordan was named a Preseason All-America. Midfielder John Maloney is back as well. Last year, Maloney scored 22 times.
Drexel leads the series with Albany, 8-5, and has won the last five meetings. Last year Drexel won in Albany, 14-13. In 2013, the Dragons won a 20-19 shootout at Vidas Field. The Dragons trailed by seven goals early but came back to escape with the win.
The Drexel-Albany game will begin at 3 p.m. as the Drexel women's team will host Columbia at noon.
About McIlhenny Company
TABASCO® brand products are made by McIlhenny Company, founded in 1868, including world-famous TABASCO® brand Original Red Sauce, as well as Green Jalapeño, Chipotle, Buffalo Style, Habanero, SWEET & Spicy and Garlic Pepper Sauce flavors. To this day, the company is still family-owned and operated in Avery Island, Louisiana.
Using the same recipe created by Edmund McIlhenny over 146 years ago, TABASCO® brand Original Red Sauce is made from tabasco pepper mash that's been aged up to 3 years in white oak barrels, and blended with premium distilled vinegar and a small amount of salt. Learn more at TABASCO.com.
Drexel is coming off a 14-10 loss at then No.9 Virginia on Saturday. The Dragons opened up a quick two-goal lead and made it a 3-0 game 10 minutes into the contest. Jules Raucci scored the Dragons' first goal of the year just 50 seconds into the game. Less than two minutes later, Ryan Belka got on the board with an unassisted score. Mason Pynn closed the three-goal run at the 5:26 mark. Virginia answered by scoring six of the next seven goals to take a 6-4 lead. Tyler German and Ryan Tucker each scored twice during the stretch. German and Greg Coholan had back-to-back goals just 53 seconds apart. Drexel freshman Michael Kay scored his first career goal to get the lead back to two goals but Owen Van Arsdale, German and a pair by Tucker put the Cavaliers by two with 5:50 left before the break. They would not trail again in the game. The Dragons trailed 8-6 at the break and got the face off to start the third. Drexel had possession for almost five minutes and took nine shots but could not score. When the Cavaliers got the ball back, they rattled home three goals in a span of 1:02 to take control of the game.
Belka and Raucci each finished with two goals to lead the Dragons. Virginia had a balanced offensive attack as five players had at least two goals. Van Arsdale had a hat trick, while Tucker, Pannell and Lukacovic each had a pair of goals and assists. Matt Barrett made 12 saves in the cage for UVA. Drexel's Saputo won 16 of his 27 draws and had a game-high 11 ground balls. The Dragons outshot Virginia, 42-39, but committed 19 miscues in the game, 10 that were forced by the Cavaliers.
Albany has yet to play a game this year. The Danes are expected to be the top team in the America East. They have won the conference title in each of their last two seasons. Last season, Albany had a similar fate as the Dragons, reaching the tournament and winning a game before falling in the NCAA Quarterfinals. Albany stunned No. 1 Loyola, defeating the Greyhounds, 13-6. Their season ended with a 14-13 loss to Notre Dame in overtime.
The Great Danes lost one Tewaaraton Trophy winner but return another for 2015. Miles Thompson and his NCAA record 82 goals are gone, but his cousin Lyle, co-winner of the Tewaaraton, is back to lead Albany's offense, which led the country with 15.94 goals per game. Lyle Thompson set Division I records with 77 assists and 128 points. He also scored 51 goals and begins his final season with 279 career points. He needs 75 points this season to tie Rob Pannell for the NCAA record. Blaze Riordan is back in the cage for Scott Marr's team. Riordan was named a Preseason All-America. Midfielder John Maloney is back as well. Last year, Maloney scored 22 times.
Drexel leads the series with Albany, 8-5, and has won the last five meetings. Last year Drexel won in Albany, 14-13. In 2013, the Dragons won a 20-19 shootout at Vidas Field. The Dragons trailed by seven goals early but came back to escape with the win.
The Drexel-Albany game will begin at 3 p.m. as the Drexel women's team will host Columbia at noon.
About McIlhenny Company
TABASCO® brand products are made by McIlhenny Company, founded in 1868, including world-famous TABASCO® brand Original Red Sauce, as well as Green Jalapeño, Chipotle, Buffalo Style, Habanero, SWEET & Spicy and Garlic Pepper Sauce flavors. To this day, the company is still family-owned and operated in Avery Island, Louisiana.
Using the same recipe created by Edmund McIlhenny over 146 years ago, TABASCO® brand Original Red Sauce is made from tabasco pepper mash that's been aged up to 3 years in white oak barrels, and blended with premium distilled vinegar and a small amount of salt. Learn more at TABASCO.com.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's LacrosseDrexel's Autocomplete With Men's Lacrosse Coach Steven Boyle
Tuesday, March 18
Drexel Sports Medicine Feature
Wednesday, January 10
Game Plans - Presented by The Study - Men's Lacrosse Coach Brian Voelker
Friday, September 30
Game Plans: Brian Voelker - Presented by The Study
Thursday, September 29